Veterinary Vault

Every year, millions of unwanted dogs and cats, including puppies and kittens, are needlessly destroyed. The good news is that every pet owner can make a difference. By having your dog or cat surgically sterilized, you will do your part to prevent the birth of unwanted puppies and kittens and you will enhance your pet's health and quality of life. [more]

Planning and preparation are necessary when traveling with family pets. Consider whether your pet is comfortable when traveling. Some animals, like some people, function better in familiar surroundings. A car-sick animal can make a trip miserable for everyone. Some ill or physically impaired dogs and cats cannot withstand the rigors of travel. If this is the case, discuss options such as using a reliable pet-sitter or a clean, well-managed boarding facility with your veterinarian. [more]

Pets, like people, can be protected from some diseases by vaccination. Vaccines can lessen the severity of future diseases and certain vaccines can prevent infection altogether. Today, a variety of vaccines are available for use by veterinarians. [more]

Cats make wonderful companions. Their entertaining antics and affectionate behaviors have endeared these animals to millions of owners for thousands of years. Easily house-trained and relatively low maintenance, cats make good indoor [more]

The saying that “dogs are a man's (or woman's) best friend” has a lot of truth to it. Dogs have been faithful companions for tens of thousands of years. They are friendly, affectionate, and entertaining. They are also capable of doing extraordinary jobs—and seem to enjoy doing them. [more]

Perhaps the kindest thing you can do for a horse that is extremely ill, severely injured, lame, or dangerous is to have your veterinarian induce its death quickly and humanely through euthanasia. Your decision to have your horse euthanatized is a serious one, and is seldom easy to make. [more]

Every home contains a variety of everyday items and substances that can be dangerous or even fatal if ingested by dogs and cats. You can protect your pet's health by becoming aware of the most common health hazards found in many pet-owning households. [more]

Most internal parasites are worms and single-celled organisms that can exist in the intestines of dogs or cats. The most common worms are roundworms, hookworms, whipworms and tapeworms. Common single-cell parasites are coccidia and Giardia [more]

Internal parasites are a primary cause of colic in horses and can cause or contribute to many respiratory, digestive, and performance problems. Following a regular preventive deworming program formulated by your veterinarian can help. [more]

West Nile virus is an arbovirus that causes inflammation of the brain. It is transmitted by blood-feeding insects such as mosquitoes. Most infections with West Nile virus have been identified in wild birds, horses and humans, but the virus can also infect various other wild and domestic animals. [more]